Five Minutes with Bill Wirtz

By pbadmin

April 17th, 2002

Five Minutes with…. Bill Wirtzby: Pat Griffin04/17/2002When I took on the challenge of writing the “Five MinutesWith” columns, never in my wildest dreams did I think I could score the topman of the Chicago Blackhawks, owner William Wirtz. So here, in anotherexclusive for blackhawkzone.com, I present my conversation with Chicago’s mostwell known sports entrepreneur, five minutes with…..Bill Wirtz!

(I hope he doesn’t mind me sharing this conversation between two hockey fans,but I simply found him fascinating and wanted to share.)

Charming.

I looked up the word “charming” in the dictionary Sunday evening andfound “to affect by or as if by a magic spell”. That is exactly how I feltthat afternoon when I had the distinguished pleasure of discussing the future ofthe Chicago Blackhawks with Mr. William Wirtz after the game.

As the Blackhawks were handing out their jerseys to fans after defeating theBlue Jackets to assure the fifth spot in the playoffs, I noticed Bill Wirtzstanding a few rows behind us. Frank had invited Amanda and I down to hissection to watch the postgame festivities and I just had to take this rareopportunity and approach Mr. Wirtz. The conversation went something like this:

PG: Mr. Wirtz, can I ask you to take a photograph with my daughter?

BW: Certainly. I always have time for any Blackhawk fan, especially one thisbeautiful. (He removes his glasses.)

Suddenly, an attractive woman that accompanied him said:

“No. This won’t do.”

I immediately thought, “here we go again”, but was pleasantly surprisedwhen she said, with a big smile: “We want YOU in the picture, too. I’ll takeit.” She did!

BW: How long have you been a fan, son?

PG: Thirty-three years and counting, sir.

BW: That’s wonderful. What do you think of having the opportunity to getbehind a REAL team again, my friend?

PG: It’s been a terrific season, sir. Brian Sutter has restored the prideof the Indianhead. What a tremendous decision you made in bringing him here.

BW: Yes, he has. It made perfect sense. We couldn’t have another seasonlike last year. It hurt very badly. Did you say thirty-three years? You don’tlook thirty three years old! (He extends his firm hand.)

PG: Thank you. It’s been three years as a fan for my daughter. She livesand breathes for your team like I did when I was her age.

BW: So do I. (He looked down patting Amanda on the head, gently, and shookher hand with a big smile, as she beamed. He then he shook Patsy’s hand.)

I thanked him for his time, as I could see several security people wanting tohurry him along. He was not done!

BW: How do you think we will do in the playoffs? We are playing St. Louisnow, for sure. Looks like Thursday and Saturday there and Monday and Wednesdayhere. (Turned out to be Sunday and Tuesday, but he wasn’t aware at the time.)

PG: I think we match up very well with them, sir, but I believe it all comesdown to the goaltending. Neither team has much playoff goaltending experience.

BW: Interesting. You may be right. I think we are going to advance. We arenot done yet! We’re just getting started. (He shook my hand again.)

I wished him luck, but HE was not done yet, either! He wanted to keeptalking. I didn’t want to intrude on his time, but if he was willing…..

BW: Mr. Sutter has done a fantastic job, you agree?

PG: Yes sir, I do, but I’m troubled by the Tony Amonte matter for nextseason. Is there any chance he will come back? I would hate to see all thepositives turned to negatives next year.

BW: What is your name again?

PG: Pat, sir.

BW: (He grabbed my hand a third time and looked down at the floor and paused,very pensive, for a moment.) Pat, I don’t think he will be back. It hurts mevery deeply. Tony is a super kid and I love him as a person and a player. Thisis the part of sports that bothers me. We can’t have them all, you know?Zhamnov, Daze, Sullivan….they all cost a lot of money and are wrapped up forawhile. (I swear…it looked like tears were forming in his eyes. He is clearlybothered by this situation.) I wish he and I could just sit down with no oneelse around and straighten this out.

PG: Can’t you meet half way? You know, Tony is the reason that Amanda is ahockey fan. You can’t lose people like that and not replace them in asuccessful organization.

BW: It’s possible, anything is possible, but I don’t see it. Wait untilyou see what we have on the farm, though (his eyes widening). Young Ruutu couldbe a star right now. He’ll be here next year. We have others, too. Lots ofyoung talent on the way. The young center….(he appeared to be searching abit.)

PG: Yakoubov?

BW: (Big smile.) Yes, Yakoubov and Vorobiev, too. You are gonna love thesekids. We have a kid in Spokane named Matt Keith. What a player!

PG: He looked impressive at the Prospects Camp this year.

BW: You saw that? I knew I knew you from somewhere. I remember you and yourdaughter! You people are great fans. We need more like you.

(We made some serious eye contact. I knew he didn’t remember me and he knewit too, but we both smiled, like we were on to one another. I respected theoverture, though.)

BW: The other night, one NHL general manager approached me and said, “Mr.Wirtz, I just returned from a scouting trip and saw several of your youngplayers. I can guarantee you that the Blackhawks won’t be finishing in thebottom half of the league for at least ten years.”

PG: Wow, that’s great to hear!

BW: Please give us a chance next year. You will be happy with the results.

PG: I wish you the best of luck in the playoffs. I think we can win thisseries.

BW: Oh, we are not done yet! This coach is terrific. He doesn’t care aboutgoing to dinner (big laugh), only about hockey. We got the right guy this time.

Speak Your Mind!Do you have an opinion on this story? If so, then post it on the BlackhawkZone.Com Discussion Forum,as well as read what fellow Blackhawk fans have to say!

PG: Yes, you did. I appreciate you sharing all of this with us.

BW: We need people like you and your daughter. (Winks at her.) Stick with usand give us a chance. (Laughs) It’s tough managing millionaires!